Head-to-head
Michigan vs Ohio
Ohio undercuts Michigan in all four BEA categories, for an all-items gap of 3.443 points (92.774 vs 96.217); rents (9.320 points) and utilities (4.327 points) differ most.
Updated
| Measure | Michigan | Ohio | First − second |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-items price level | 96.217 | 92.774 | +3.443 points |
| Rent price level | 82.332 | 73.012 | +9.320 points |
| Home value | $231,600±$642 | $214,800±$742 | +$16,800 |
| Two-bedroom gross rent | $1,162±$6 | $1,063±$6 | +$99 |
| Household income | $72,875±$293 | $71,389±$321 | +$1,486 |
| Real estate taxes paid | $2,904±$9 | $2,822±$10 | +$82 |
$4,000 of monthly spending in Michigan scales to $3,857 in Ohio at the 2024 all-items price ratio.
BEA 2024 and ACS 2020–2024; ± marks the Census 90% margin. How to read a gap
Michigan vs Ohio: Ohio is cheaper on every line
No category favours Michigan. Ohio's rent parity is 73.012 against Michigan's 82.332, its utilities 95.823 against 100.150, its goods 93.670 against 95.993 and its other services 98.947 against 100.933. Ohio's goods are the second-cheapest in the country.
The housing gaps are small in dollars. In dollars the housing gaps are small: $99 a month on the median two-bedroom, $16,800 on the median home and just $82 a year on the typical tax bill. Owners with a mortgage report almost identical median monthly costs, $1,569 and $1,517. For a cross-border search, the home-price row is a first filter, not a valuation of a chosen house.
Michigan's relative prices rose faster recently. Michigan went from 94.431 in 2020 to 96.217 in 2024, nearly all of it in the final year, while Ohio moved from 91.935 to 92.774. The gap has widened from roughly two and a half points to more than three.
Incomes are close, and price adjustment flips them. Michigan's median household income is $72,875, $1,486 above Ohio's $71,389, but real per capita personal income is higher in Ohio: $56,232 (rank 34) against $53,569 (rank 41), a $2,663 difference.
The tax systems differ in form. Ohio's 2026 income tax charges 2.75% on nonbusiness income above $26,050, under Revised Code 5747.02. Michigan's state government collects a property tax of its own, 7.7% of fiscal 2025 collections, and more income tax per resident, $1,236 against $923. Total collections were $4,029 per resident in Michigan and $3,264 in Ohio.
A renter should price the exact lease and commute together; parking, travel and changed employer benefits belong on separate budget lines.
Price levels by category
| Measure | Michigan | Ohio | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.217 | 92.774 | +3.443 |
| Goods | 95.993 | 93.670 | +2.323 |
| Housing (rents) | 82.332 | 73.012 | +9.320 |
| Utilities | 100.150 | 95.823 | +4.327 |
| Other services | 100.933 | 98.947 | +1.986 |
| Real income per person (2017 $) | $53,569 | $56,232 | −$2,663 |
Two state tax mixes, FY2025
Michigan: $40.81 billion, $4,029 per resident. Ohio: $38.84 billion, $3,264 per resident.
| Tax | MI share | OH share | MI per resident | OH per resident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual income | 30.7% | 28.3% | $1,236 | $923 |
| General sales | 32.3% | 42.6% | $1,301 | $1,389 |
| Property | 7.7% | not levied | $311 | — |
| Motor fuel | 4.0% | 7.1% | $161 | $231 |
| Other selective sales | 10.7% | 16.3% | $432 | $533 |
| Corporate income | 7.5% | 0.0% | $302 | $0 |
| Licenses | 5.9% | 5.6% | $240 | $183 |
| Severance | 0.1% | 0.2% | $2 | $5 |
| Other taxes | 1.1% | 0.0% | $44 | $0 |
Taxes on wages and purchases
| Tax | Michigan | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | Not summarised on this site; see the Michigan Department of Treasury | 2.75% above $26,050 for 2026 |
| State sales tax | 6%, with no local sales tax | 5.75% state rate plus up to 3% county and transit tax |
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